Quiz: Howstuffworks

Take This World Geography Quiz and We'll Guess Which European City You Live In

Zoe Samuel

Image: joe daniel price / Moment / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Europe is a continent, but unlike Australia, it isn't also a country. Europe is defined by the many regional cultures that inhabit the land. These cultures were shaped by history, geography, and the movement of groups of people. Some European cities and cultures are geared toward pluralism and take an open-minded approach to people from other lands, while other places are more secluded and do not know what to think of outsiders. Some European cities are very much a product of industries, sometimes even industries long since gone to seed, and successful or not, the culture of that industry works its way into the local culture.

With wildly different cultures and perspectives, every European city has a different view as to where the "center of the world" lies. Some of this might be due to seeing similarities between cultures, and thus having a feeling of kinship. Some might just have to do with geography, and how shared geographic similarities make one feel at home far from one's hometown. What's more, many nations around the world have a long relationship with a European nation, and perhaps even a shared language, giving the two a bond that doesn't exist for other lands. Thus, your answers to this quiz on world geography will allow us to guess what European city you live in. After all, the motto of the EU is "United in Diversity."

What recently-founded country do you dream of visiting (assuming it is safe to go)?

Palau

East Timor

Kosovo

Montenegro

Which continent do you think offers the best bang for your buck when traveling?

Europe, because I'm very rich and can afford to do it right!

Asia, because it's the most different place I've ever been, thus best value.

South America, because the flight is the only expensive part.

Africa, because you literally have to spend the least amount of money.

Would you go to Antarctica even if it meant you couldn't take any other trips for two years?

Yes! The colder, the better!

No. It's too important to me to be able to travel often.

No. I hate the cold.

Yes. I can't afford much travel anyway.

Which forest is the best one?

Tongass National Forest, Alaska—it's cold and very safe!

The Amazon—it's the biggest!

Valdivian Rainforest—it's not too hot!

Daintree Rainforest—it's in Australia so I don't need to learn a language!

How do you feel about megacities like Karachi, Shenzhen, and Tokyo?

They are all too hot!

They are not efficient.

They are too big!

It's awesome that so many people want to live in community.

Which geological feature is the most photogenic?

Volcano

Caldera

Slot canyon

Coral reef

The tectonic plates are always moving. Which two countries with facing coastlines would you like to drag so that they are touching?

I'd actually like to separate Norway and Russia, if I may.

I'd attach the UK to France, just to troll them both.

I'd attach Sardinia to Italy, so it would be easier to vacation there.

I'd attach the USA to Ireland, to make it really easy to emigrate either way between them, and introduce the USA to decent beer.

Which city has the best subway system, in your view?

Moscow

Tokyo

Athens

Paris

Which lines on a map are the most informative lines?

Supplementary contour lines

Isobars

Index contour lines

Intermediate contour lines

Where will you go to see a famous carnival?

Rio, Brazil

Venice, Italy

Ivrea, Italy

Notting Hill, London

If you were looking down a batholith, where would you be?

An extinct volcano

Any cliff

A mountainside

Edinburgh

Which of these is the biggest capital city: London, Lahore, Khartoum or Brasilia?

Trick question! Lahore is not a capital city.

London, by population

Khartoum, by area

I only care about which one is the best one!

Why might a person pass out at Kilimanjaro?

Altitude sickness

Heat exhaustion

They didn't bring enough food!

Dehydration

Who would you expect to meet in Antarctica?

Scientists

Tourists

Explorers

Penguins

Which of these oceans is the windiest?

Atlantic

Indian

Southern

Pacific

Why is the sea that lovely turquoise color in the Caribbean?

It's shallower, so absorbs less light.

It's shallower, so some light bounces off the sea bed.

The sun is brighter there, so shines through it.

It's nearer the equator, hence the angle of the light is different.

How would you most like to get around Venice?

I'll bring my own boat!

On foot

Gondola

Vaporetto

What effect of rising carbon dioxide levels worries you most?

Melting icecaps

War and displacement

Rising sea levels

Worsening storms

Which nation of central Asia will you visit for a vacation, and why?

Tajikistan, for the snowy mountains

Uzbekistan, to see the Silk Road

Turkmenistan, for the beaches

Kyrgyzstan: nobody can spell it, so my boss can't find me there!

If you were determined to live in house made of gold-colored stone, where would you prefer to live?

Assuming the war ended, I'd go to Sana'a, Yemen.

Cusco, Peru

Salamanca, Spain

Bath, England

Which of these cities noted for high quality of life do you think deserves the best ranking?

Toronto, Canada

Perth, Australia

Geneva, Switzerland

Auckland, Australia

Some say the famous chevrons of Madagascar were made by a megatsunami. What (or who) do you think really made them?

Erosion

Meteor

Earthquake

I think a team of cheeky natives carved them that way to trick us.

Which of these mountains do you think is the most dangerous?

Krakatoa. It's a volcano, people!

K2. It's very, very steep.

Mount Everest. It's the big one.

Kilimanjaro. It's supposedly an easy climb which is why any joker thinks they can do it, thus leading to overestimating themselves.

Which of these countries has the longest coastline: Chile, Alaska, Russia, or Australia?

Trick question! Alaska is not a country! It does however, have the longest coastline for a state.

Chile. It's all relative.

Russia. I like to think in absolute terms.

Australia is technically a continent, so I'm going with that.

What do you find most special about Lake Hillier, Australia?

It's full of special algae!

It's on an island!

It's saline!

It's pink!

What geographical feature would you be keen to see in Scotland?

Loch

Burn

Corrie

Limestone pavement

Where would you go to spend a peso?

Argentina

Uruguay

Mexico

Phillipines

Which country will you cross to get to its landlocked neighbor?

Switzerland, to reach Liechtenstein

South Africa, to get to Lesotho

Italy, to see the Vatican

Albania, to visit Kosovo

Which of these foreign species will you bring to your new home in Europe, as a gift for their society?

Koala from Australia

Red panda from China

Elephant from Kenya

Bison from America

Which red, white, and blue national flag will you fly at your new home, even though it is not really appropriate?

I will fly North Korea's flag, because I honestly doubt anyone will recognize it, and those who do will think I am hilarious.

The Tricolore, parce que j'adore le France!

The Union Jack, because I speak English and I want people to know it.

The USA, because I love America!

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